" AA- The Terrace Stondard, Wednesday, January 20, 1999 TERRACE

STANDARD

ESTABLISHED APRIL 27, 1988

PUBLISHER: ROD LINK ADDRESS: 3210 Clinton Street Terrace, B.C. » V8G 5R2 TELEPHONE: (250) 638-7283 * FAX: (250) 638-8432 . EMAIL: standard@kermode,net

Snow job

THERE’S NOTHING more satisfying than lean- ing on a snow shovel, contemplating that pristine driveway you "ve just cleared of snow. Once again, you’ve conquered all that winter can throw your way. —

Until, that is, the city grader makes its pass down your street. Seconds later, there’s a wall of dirty, crusty snow blocking your driveway. And once again you grasp the shovel and begin to work while wondering about the humanity of the grader operator. Would he, you think, do this to the mayor’s driveway?

Over the past weeks city council has been in- undated with complaints about the manner in which snow is cleared in the city. That large dump just before Christmas drew the ire of resi- dents and of businesses with the latter saying that the failure of a proper system hampered the last- minute gift purchase trade.

Debate about snowclearing rapidly takes on the air of mythology, We all remember when some- how things were a better. Those in rural areas, for instance, remember the days of snowboards, when the highways ministry would clear driveways after clearing the main roads. Others tell of what happens in other cities — where customized equipment keeps the streets as clear as they are on a hot, summer’s day.

There’s really no winning when it comes to snow clearing. Any amount of money spent on ‘any kind of system or equipment will still be criticized as being inadequate.

That’s because human beings live for the mo- ment. Yesterday doesn’t count, nor does the knowledge that snow will provide problems for only four or five days a year. Our reaction is based on that immediate anger and frustration of

that. - blocked. driveways opulayer. ¢ of: ‘Slush on |

Lakelse Ave.

Too secret

IT’S LONG past time that Skeena Cellulose issued a report to the residents of northwestern B.C. And, after that report has circulated, to hold public meetings to explain what’s in the report and to answer any questions that might arise.

Top company officials have too long been beavering away in private. Any news of Skeena Cellulose comes.not as a company initiative, but from rumours which are then chased down to ap- pear as news stories.

And that’s no way for Skeena Cellulose to act. Its current-attitude about the public is a far cry from just a year ago when it depended upon the goodwill of taxpayers to agree to government as- sistance and of creditors to take a hit.

The economic existence of the northwest depends upon the company which, for better or worse, iS a provincial crown corporation. This combination should, at least as far as taxpayers

are concerned, hei ghten the requirement and re-,

sponsibility of the company to be more open about itself and of its prospects.

. The last thing the northwest needs is a secretive and arrogant tax-supported company.

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Serving the Tarrace and Thornhill aiea, Published on Wednesday of each week at 9210 Clinton Street,

Terrace, British Columbia, V8G S72. ' Slories, photographs, illustrations, designs and typestyles In the Terrace Standard are the property of tha copyright haldera, including Carlbad Press (1988) Ud., its illustration repra services and advertising

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~

A oET ty'D DROP T RULE FAST We WOULD BE

UY

This person is on Our side

VICTORIA — In some bureau- cratic and political circles David Flaherty is about as welcome as an abortionist at the Vatican. Others do their best not to run afoul of the information and. privacy commissioner.

We've come a long way, baby, since our political masters and their bureaucratic servants could ride roughshod over lowly citizens. Responding to public pressure, born of increased political awareness, we've devised mechanisms and institutions whose mandates are to slrengthen the democratic process by preventing and rectifying politi- cal and bureaucratic abuse,

The ombudsman, the auditor general, the conflict of interest com- missioner and the information and

interaction between government and the public,

I have, on occasion, voiced the opinion that these institutions have become so powerful as to make gov- erning all but impossible, not to mention the cost.

Flaherty, in his latest annual report, addresses those questions and explodes a number of myths surrounding the mandate and cost-

FROM THE CAPITAL. HUBERT BEYER

effectiveness of his office.

_ Myth 1: “Government cannot govern under FO] {Freedom of Information}. Il no longer has the

~ freedom to deliberate in private | privaey gommissiongs “al have; > Without everything being’ ‘Fevealed | “come to play important roles i inthe’ &9 the world, Deputy ministers no

longer feel free to write briefing

notes.”

Not true, says Flaherty, Sections 12 and 13 of the Act, gov- erning his office, provide ‘explicit protection for cabinet confidences and policy advice and recommenda- tions, allowing government to engage in policy-making within a “zone of confidentiality”

Another myth, he says, is that

assuring access to information and protection of privacy for British Columbians is too expensive. Compared with the benefits, he says, the costs are relatively modest.

Freedom of information and privacy protection, he says, are “fu- ndamental human rights,’’ the pro- tection of which is well worth the expenditure of public funds.

A real gem in his report is Flaherty’s assessment of how politi- cians view his function. In 4 nut- shell, government hates it, the oppo- sition loves it, and he’s not Surprised.

“Tt is natural that any incum- bent government wil] have occasion to dislike the practice of open, accountable government, because controlling the flow of information

en

+ - ey wig de akties isa key exercise of power, "| |” ***""

“Opposition partics will truni- pet the virtues of freedom of infor- mation before and after they exer- cise power.”

I wish I had said that.

Another popular myth, he says, is that most requests for information come from the media and the oppo- sition parties, when, in fact, they account for a mere 10 percent com- bined. And that’s fine with him, since the opposition has no other

formal method of accessing infor- mation, except for Question Period.

The system by which we gov- ern ourselves is constantly evolving. What was yesterday’s business as usual has become today’s abuse-of . power, and our governments had better get used to it.

One need only look to other parts of the world to realize just how far our system has evolved. A cou- ple of years ago, Flaherty was in Hungary to speak on access to infor- mation in Canada to a group of pub- lic interest lawyers and human tights activists from Central and Eastern Europe,

He says he came away from’ that event with a renewed sense of just how important that basic human ight is.

SOS SAS the first (Hungarian)

Commissioner, ‘Laszio Majtenyi, - states, the Hungariar public requires compensation for their -history of oppression by government,”

Things have never been that bad here, bul then, we want to make damned sure they'll never get that way. ; , ;

Beyer can be reached at: Tel: (250) 920-9300; Fax: (250) 356: - 9597, E-mail: hubert@coolcom.com

Exposing the great cover up.

CALEDONIA SENIOR Secondary School's recent news- letter asks that beach wear not be wom at school,

Current female fashion of spa- ghetti straps, low cleavage and bare midriff, though the norm, is not the preferred dress for school, says the principal.

Some students suggest their parents go along with the bare minimum. I’ll bet, though, a few renegade mothers have protested as their daughters left for schoo! attired like a cocktail waitress without the tray.

I can imagine such a mother, brow furrowed, trying to digest the newsletter along with her toast.

“T told you Shania Twain’s style would be frowned’ upon.

Why can’t you copy Jann

Arden?” “Geez, Mom,” 16-year-old

THROUGH BIFOCALS CLAUDETTE SANDECK]I

berry poptart into the toaster. “I should cover up like an Inuit so you'll feel warm?”

“Look outside, girl. The neigh- bours’ cars are warming up. You'll have goosebumps big as suction feet on a Rubbermaid mat.”

Chin jutting, hands on bare waist, Trendy shrieks, “You want me to look like a freak|”

mumbles around a bite of toast. “The newsletter says your cloth- ing should reflect the degree of modesty required for a business- like approach to the workplace. You've got on less than a Maui street vendor hawking beach umbrellas.”

“Humph!” Trendy snatches out the poptart, “The principal won't enforce his old newsletter, Wait

and see. He'll forget he ever

wrote that. He can’t tell us how to dress. That would be tram- pling on our freedom to express ourselves.”

“Think so? I don’t. I expect he’s on firm legal ground. Anyway his dress code is far more sensible, especially in this cold weather. And did you ever notice the hunks you're shivering to impress stay warm and bun- dled up in quilled winter jackets?”

Trendy whines, poking a blue- “Don’t exaggerate,” Mom “$0 who cares,” Trendy THANKYOU SO MUCH \ / NES! you = YOU CRAZY Foo!! 7] FoR YOUR IMFASSIONED\ | ARE THE ude cre uP -

a U o SPEECH ABOUT (AE | | HERO OF CU teree aap THE WILDERNESS 1! YOU CHANCE FoR JOBS AD SAVED THIS UNIQUE PROSPERITY FoR THE Avent! AND PRECIOUS AREA !! ere cen ~ 4 AWS ach oy Tog ie. ‘ D WY

ONE. CANNOT WALE.ON WATER ON ALL LAKES !/

munches, admiring her bare mid- riff reflected in the dark window,

“Your bellybutton was cute when you wore Pampers, even Huggies. Now...”

“You're never happy, Mom. When I wore sweaters with sleeves rolled up three times, you - said I looked sloppy. And when I ware a jacket down to my knees you bellyached...”:

“So because your classmates risk hypothermia, so should you? - What's wrong with thinking for yourself?”

“T just don’t want to look out of . place, you know?”

“Then try wearing long sleeves and something you can tuck i in at the waist.”

“You think?”

“Be brave. Be a irendsetter.

Pull a sweater on over (hat. tank

top while | put away this ten foot : pole.”